title: Geriatric neuropsychology: implications for front line clinicians.
abstract: Consistent with the aging population, neuropsychologists are being asked with increased frequency to evaluate older adults. These assessments are often complicated by medical and psychiatric co-morbidities, polypharmacy, and complex psychosocial and legal issues that are frequently encountered in this population. The aim of this review article is to address the challenges neuropsychologists and other frontline clinicians often confront when evaluating older individuals. Specifically, we review psychiatric and medical co-morbidities, testing accommodations, diagnostic versus descriptive testing approaches, normative issues, polypharmacy, and reimbursement rates. Finally, future implications are discussed for advancing the neuropsychologist's role in evaluating and treating older individuals.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Clinical Neurosciences, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA. cyweyer@aol.com
authors.forename: Christina Weyer
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jamora
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: Bonnie B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards; D009484:Neuropsychology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010820:Physicians